Insurance for cyclists?

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Permalink Reply by Bike Protected on May 7, 2009 at 10:23am

go here: http://www.idfpr.com/doi/Producer/default.asp
search: GRAMS WILLIAM F JR

BK said:

Bike Protected, what is your Illinois insurance license number? I didn't see any links on your site.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Freeman on May 7, 2009 at 4:01pm

Brett Ratner said:

4. There didn't seem to be a scenario where your auto policy would come into play if you are riding a bicycle...I didn't ask her specifically about a non-driver policy (like what has been mentioned in this thread), but there didn't seem to be a need for one from what I could tell. What exactly is the non-car-owner policy supposed to do?

Brett-

I love it- let's play stump the insurance agent. Tell them you don't use a car- they're lost...

Your insurance agent is only used to dealing with scenarios in which their insured drives a car- like normal people. Normal people drive cars, so normal people have UM/UIM coverage. That's why insurance agents aren't trying to stuff UM/UIM down your throat. That's not unusual. I've even heard of agents who think UM policies don't cover you when you're hit by a car on a bike- but they do.

Uninsured/under insured motorist coverage steps into the shoes of an uninsured, absent (hit and run), or under insured driver- and it is VERY important coverage for cyclists to have- especially if they don't have health insurance. When I talk to agents I ask about UM/UIM for cyclists and they kinda look glassey eyed, then I break it down for them and they totally understand.

Your insurance agent is assuming that a negligent driver will have enough of their own insurance to take care of your claim after they hit you- if they even stop. It's my contention that a majority of drivers in the city of Chicago only have 20K in coverage- if they have coverage at all, and if they stop after hitting you. Ever spent a night in the hospital? Did it cost about 20K?

If you are hit by a car with no insurance, low policy limits, or a hit and run driver you will be unable to recover for the injuries and disability caused by the accident. UM/UIM coverage allows you to recover not only for your current medical costs, but future medical treatment, lost wages, disability, pain and suffering, loss of a normal life, or even death- up to the policy limits. It also generally provides for medical payments coverage- usually only enough to cover deductibles and such ($5,000 is fairly normal med-pay coverage).

If you're counting on only your health insurance and your homeowner's policy you could have huge losses that will never be recovered- suppose you lose a few months from work, or worse yet, you suffer an injury that renders you unable to do your job at all? What if you have permanent scarring- or worse yet you lose function of some part of your body? What if your health insurance drops you, or you lose your coverage, but you still need medical treatment? Not to mention your deductibles... All of these things and more are recoverable under a UM/UIM policy up to the policy limits.

...and if you can't afford health insurance at $200.00 a month, pay $200.00 a year for an operator's policy and have your medical taken care of if some crappy driver hits you.

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Permalink Reply by Joe TV on May 7, 2009 at 6:02pm

This sounds like great advice Jim. I'm going to double check my auto policy tonight. Thanks!

Jim said:

I love it- let's play stump the insurance agent. Tell them you don't use a car- they're lost...
Your insurance agent is only used to dealing with scenarios in which their insured drives a car- like normal people. Normal people drive cars, so normal people have UM/UIM coverage. That's why insurance agents aren't trying to stuff UM/UIM down your throat. That's not unusual. I've even heard of agents who think UM policies don't cover you when you're hit by a car on a bike- but they do.

. . .

...and if you can't afford health insurance at $200.00 a month, pay $200.00 a year for an operator's policy and have your medical taken care of if some crappy driver hits you.

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Permalink Reply by michaela on September 17, 2010 at 2:46pm

Does anyone what the regulations are for getting uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. The plan I'm looking at seems to have the same amount of coverage limits for property damage liability. I can't imagine doing more than $25,000 worth of property damage to someone else's car while on my bike, but my agent tells me that these limits must be the same as the limits on UM/UIM coverage. Do I really need to pay the higher premium for property damage liability?

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